How You Can Keep the “Bad” Cholesterol Level Down

Every year you should visit your doctor for an overall check up. You may be eating healthy, exercising regularly and leading a healthy lifestyle but a visit to the doctor at least once a year is necessary. Why, you may ask? Your cholesterol level may be higher than the healthy level.

The Good and the Bad Cholesterol

Let us go deeper into this matter. First you should know that there are two types of cholesterol. There is the “bad” cholestero or Low-density lipoprotein or LDL for short. There is also the “good” cholesterol or HDL which stands for High-density lipoprotein. So why is the LDL called the “bad” cholesterol? LDL takes fat and deposits the fat into the arteries. The fat deposits can cause blockage which can lead to heart attack and other heart diseases. This is why you would want to keep the level of this cholesterol down. HDL on the other hand travels in your bloodstream and gets rid of the “bad” cholesterol.

So what would trigger your “bad” cholesterol to spike up? Some experts have explained that genetics can play a role as to why some people have high levels of LDL. One can also be genetically predisposed to have low levels of HDL or the good cholesterol. If you are overweight, obese, a smoker, eating a diet high in carbs, suffering from type 2 diabetes, leading a sedentary life and taking certain medication such as beta blockers and steroids, your HDL level can become low. This means that the “bad” cholesterol or LDL will have the upper hand.

You’re Never Too Young to Worry about Heart Disease

Do not think that heart disease is just for older people. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you are too young to worry about heart disease. Heart disease is not exclusive to the elderly. Even during your childhood plaque in your arteries can start forming. Once again, the saying “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”, proves to be true. Once you had a heart attack or showed signs of heart problem, trying to fix this will never reduce your risk compared to if you’ve taken care of your LDL cholesterol level early on.

Watch What You Eat

To keep your “bad” cholesterol level down, you should eat fibrous food. Include these fibres in your daily diet.

Barley

Oats (oatmeal and oat bran)

Apples and Oranges

Prunes

Brussels sprouts

Legumes such as beans, peas and lentils

How do these fibres work in keeping your “bad” cholesterol level down? First and foremost these fibres trap some of the fat and cholesterol from what you eat and send it out before your body starts absorbing it. Bile acids used in breaking down the fat from your meal are made from cholesterol and during breaking down of fat, most of the bile acids will be reabsorbed by the body but these fibres will block some of that reabsorption. This would cause the body to draw cholesterol in the blood to create more bile acid which in turn lowers the “bad” cholesterol.

Drizzle Culinary Moroccan Argan Oil on Your Dishes

The Moroccan Argan oil can lower your body’s “bad” cholesterol level. The oil is packed with polyunsaturated fats and plant sterols which are both effective in lowering “bad” cholesterol or LDL.